South African Chief Rabbi Warren Goldstein. Photo: Office of Chief Rabbi Warren Goldstein.

Warren Goldstein

Chief Rabbi of South Africa

Chief Rabbi Warren Goldstein of South Africa has served in that post since 2005, and continues to engage the government on issues affecting South Africa and the South African Jewish community.

He also is well-known for “The Shabbos Project,” a global movement encouraging secular and religious Jews to experience one full Sabbath in accordance with Jewish law.

Organizers now estimate that the movement has reached 1 million people across more than 60 countries since it began as a local initiative in 2013 under Goldstein.

Goldstein attributes the movement’s enormous growth to its grassroots nature and social media appeal. “What’s given the project real space to move at such a rapid rate is that it belongs to the people. It’s not a hierarchical organization,” he said.